Hand in Hand

Zoe, our English Springer, has an endearing habit that makes even the non-dog lover take note. When guests come to our home, Zoe props herself up on the back of the couch and holds out her paw as if to say "Welcome!" Zoe gushes love on us as well. If she’s sitting next to us, you can be sure that one of Zoe’s paws are touching one of her human parents. Dog experts call this pawsy. I call it love.

I’ll never get tired of Zoe holding out her hand for me. I have to admit that sometimes it’s a bit annoying when I need both of my hands for something. But, on the other hand, I’m so thankful that she always wants a connection with the peeps in her life. 

As I consider the New Year ahead, I want to be very intentional about partnering with God in everything I do. I need God so much! My marriage, my work, my choices, my actions, my words, my relationships, and my service opportunities. I literally want to reach out and hold God’s hand as I walk through 2018. He and I walking through the year ahead....together. Why? Because I know that I can’t do 2018 alone! I need God and you do too. 

Give serious thought to these verses and notice the connection we can have with God:

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Psalm 41:13

“Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.” Psalm 73:23

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

So often, we're too busy seeking validation from others that we miss the One who loves us most! We wander aimlessly around seeking other loves, hoping against hope that they will satisfy. We long for approval, likes and validation, all the while missing God’s voice. We can even find God’s gentle ways of reaching out to us annoying. We don’t have time for this religion stuff! We can do life on our own, thank you very much. 

I urge you to consider Zoe and her need for human touch. We need God’s touch in our lives whether we know it or not. Go ahead. Take His hand. Discover how a relationship with God can change everything about your coming year. Happy New Year!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Lessons from the Shepherds

I’ve been thinking about the shepherds in the Christmas story. Usually, we focus on the main characters…Mary, Joseph, the angel and the baby Jesus. But, the shepherds were a pretty important part too. How did the story come down for the shepherds?

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

So, the shepherds were just out in the fields doing their job. They were on the night shift, most likely tending to the sheep outside Bethlehem. Their job was to guard the sheep from human and animal predators. They might go for nights without any issues at all, but still, they needed to be awake and ready for anything to happen.

But this one night.... the shepherds must have stopped dead in their tracks. All at once a brilliant light nearly blinded their eyes! This was unlike anything they’d ever seen! Can you picture their big eyes staring at the light, wondering what was going on? They immediately were terrified. (This is where I bet you and I would be feeling the same thing!)  Then, the angel left. Wow. I can only imagine the shepherds looking a bit dazed..... "Did you just hear I what I heard and see what I saw?" Then, in Luke 2:15-16 we find the shepherds making plans "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off straight from work to go visit the baby Jesus.

The shepherds were just everyday normal people with no special credentials. Yet, they were were invited to participate in the most extraordinary event on earth, the birth of Jesus. And, they responded and acted on what they heard. They went quickly to see the baby Jesus.

Let’s not miss this simple lesson from the shepherds. The shepherds could have all sorts of excuses…What if we leave the sheep unattended? What if something happens to the sheep and we’ll be blamed? What if our boss found out we had left the sheep? What if others make fun of us for going? What if we were mistaken about what we heard? It’s easy to second-guess the voice of God.  

We can learn from the shepherds in our own lives. How do you respond to God? Are you content to keep God at arm’s distance for another year? Will you come to Him or run in a hundred different directions?  Learn from the shepherds who dropped everything to follow God. Dare to act and respond to the Christmas message. This message can rock your world too.

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:20

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Snow in San Antonio!

The wonder of Christmas hit San Antonio last Thursday night in a flurry. Yes, beautiful big white flurries blanketed the area on that still night, all to the glee of children and adults alike. It was whimsical, nostalgic and magical. Who would have thought? Snow in San Antonio!

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent starts go by. Yet in the dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

I wonder if that night long ago in Bethlehem was somewhat like our snowy night? The stars glistening against the dark streets. Mary and Joseph knocking out thousands of steps in the cold as they searched for a place to have their baby. Could those in Bethlehem even comprehend at all what took place that night? Never in a million years would they have expected Jesus to be born THERE!

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n; So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

What a gift we received that night in San Antonio. No one believed it at first. Until we saw for ourselves. It really WAS snowing! Any burdens or worries we carried seemed to vanish instantly, as we took in the snow. Grown ups became like children, playing with delight in the snow. Children squealed in excitement as they created their first EVER snow man.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Could it be that the magic of Christmas is found in the unexpected, least likely corners of the world? Could it be that the Holy Child of Bethlehem COULD descend to each of us? O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! God, would you surprise us with a glimpse of the wonder of Christmas?

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2

* (Phillip Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine, especially at night time.)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Christmas Overflow

I made my favorite whole-wheat rolls for our family gathering this past Thanksgiving. It’s a bit of a production, given that I grind wheat berries to make the flour, add a ton of yeast and then knead it all together in my Bosch. This year, I placed the dough in the fridge over night. In the morning, the dough had grown beyond the confines of the bowl!

I have a pretty good picture in my mind of the bread dough living it up and partying in the fridge that night! It had no need to restrain or confine itself. It was fit to be free! It just kept overflowing, and nothing stopped it.

I want my life to overflow with the Gospel just like that bread dough. Always. Every day, especially at the Advent season. I want to see Jesus’ manger getting bigger and bigger in my heart and me getting smaller and smaller. I want to give lots of grace to others and be less irritated when in traffic and crowds. I want to give bigger tips and more thank you’s and fewer complaints. I want to overflow with kindness and God-given patience when I have to waited long enough. I want to freely love those that are hard to love. I want to sip the joys of this Advent season, slowly and reflectively, refusing to give in to the craziness around me. Just like the bread. Unhindered. Overflowing. Free.

What keeps you from living out of God’s abundance? The news and unrest of our day? The stress of shopping? The craziness of the season? Before you know it, a cranky spirit can take over and we can become an all out Grinch. Judging. Evaluating. Complaining. Gossiping. Irritable. Our Grinch-like attitudes don’t have to steal away our Christmas joy!

Stop and think about the next 21 days leading up to Christmas. Start today knowing that God is right there to help you live in this kind of abundance.

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation- the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ- for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”  Philippians 1:9-11

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Giving the Gift of Grace

Well, it's that time of the year to start putting together our Christmas lists and checking them twice. So, who really is naughty and nice in your world? Are you keeping track? We keep track more than we know.

Isn't it easy to find fault with others? I think all of us are susceptible to this. I certainly am! Whether we know it or not, we're basically trying to prove we're smarter, better, happier, wealthier, etc. What if others don't do what we ask or what we think is right? How about when family, co-workers and friends fail to meet our expectations? We can get downright cold-hearted and cruel toward others. One wrong turn and they're on our "naughty" list. Somehow, our "naughty" list is truly justified in our minds.

Honestly, I don't want anyone to be on my "naughty" list! I actually have the ability to put an end to this hypocritical spirit! And you do too! When we find fault with others, we elevate our status and forget the mercy God has shown each one of us. The Pharisees in the Bible were a good example of a hypocritical spirit. They were blinded to their own sin and to God's mercy. Instead they were cold-hearted and cruel toward other people. Take note of Jesus' warning toward them: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness." (Matthew 23:27)

When you're tempted to find fault with others, either in your mind, verbally or on social media- STOP!!!! Consider Jesus' warning and take a good hard look at your own life. If we truly understood the judgment we deserve from God, why in the world would we find fault with others?

God offers grace and mercy through His Son Jesus Christ. I'm so thankful for Jesus forgiving my sins and receiving the gift of grace! I would be a mess without God in my life! Jesus actually said "Freely you received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) So, I can freely extend God's love and grace to those around me, simply because of the gift I've received!

Time to be honest. How would you personally answer these three questions? How do I find fault with others? With whom do I withhold grace from? Who am I to judge other people? How can I give the gift of grace this December?

The gift of grace is pretty amazing.  Receive the gift of grace that God freely gives. Extend that grace to others. You will never be the same.

"Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living in peace." Ephesians 4:2,3

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Refreshing Others

Maybe the Thanksgiving holiday can’t come quick enough for you. Perhaps, you, like me, have been in a busy season, and looking forward to a break. A pause. A chance to slow down and experience refreshment, whatever that looks like to you. If your soul is a bit parched like mine, your temptation may be to simply take care of yourself. What if, instead, you looked for ways to bless and refresh others?

Thanksgiving literally calls us to get outside our self and be a thankful people for the many gifts God has blessed us with. One of those gifts is the gift of people in our lives. Family. Friends. Work associates. Those that serve us-from the Startbucks' barista to the attendant at the dry cleaners.

Sometimes, I can get so busy with my schedule and to-do list that I fail to think about those friends and family who are precious to me.  How can you and I bring refreshment to those around our table this Thanksgiving? How can we get outside ourselves and focus more on others than self? Instead of being served, can we look for ways to serve, even when the football game is calling? Who can you serve that can’t serve you back?

I know that Christ is the refresher of all refreshers. As we receive from Jesus, we can freely give to others. Who was better at refreshing others than Jesus? Jesus breathed life into weary souls. Jesus brought encouragement and kindness to those in His midst.  And He told us to as well. Jesus told His followers, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38)

So, why focus on refreshing others? We give because God’s love compels us to. We give, because we can. We give, because He first gave to us. Jesus demonstrates to us how to bless and refresh others. He was really good at doing this, right?

So, why not ask God to help you bless and refresh those in your midst? Ask for help to notice, really notice people. Ask Him for help in seeing ways to serve and bless others. Stop thinking about yourself and focus on others.  And consider the beautiful outcome… You will be blessed by blessing others.  Such a reminder that this kind of living is something God smiles at.

“Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Tears in a Bottle

It was 10:30 am, on Sunday, November 5. Ben and I, along with about 75 other YMCA staff from all over Texas were riveted to our speaker, Jason Cole. Jason was warning us of some of the challenges that we might face as we come down from our “mountain top” weekend. He reminded us to stay alert, be prepared and stand firm in the Lord, no matter what happens.  We left camp energized and inspired in our faith. 

Just minutes later, as most of us were traveling back home, a gunman came into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, and killed 26 people and injured 20. Lives changed forever in moments. As the names of those who died were given, story after story emerged of beautiful children and adults, whose lives were taken way too soon. And here we are once again, grieving for those who’ve lost family and friends in a senseless manner.

Though some may question where God was that day, God was very, very present. I even believe that God felt the pain and agony of each person in that church as the bullets scattered. I believe His grace was sufficient for each one of them in their moments of terror and suffering. And for those loved ones left behind this senseless tragedy? God is and will continue to be very present. Psalm 56:8 says “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”  

When David wrote these words in the Psalms, he had been captured by the Philistines and was a prisoner of war. He had a reason to be sorrowful and fearful or even give up on God. But instead, David expressed a deep trust in God. In the midst of a troubling time, David spoke out “This I know, God is for me…..In God, I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:9, 11)

How do we respond to Sutherland Springs? We live in a fallen world. Tragedies will continue to happen. Human beings are not always kind to one another. Yet, in our sadness, we can pray fervently for good to overcome evil. We can pray for those in Sutherland Springs who have lost loved ones. We can draw near to God and realize that He is our only true hope in a deeply troubled world.  We can cry out to God like David did, knowing that God collects our tears in a bottle. We can ask God to make us more compassionate people, looking for ways to inspire and encourage those who struggle. We can ask God to increase our faith and take a stand in our faith, even if we're judged for it. We can decide to make a difference in our community and serve others. How about you?  

“The only love that won’t disappoint you is one that can’t change, that can’t be lost, that is not based on the ups and downs of life or of how well you live. It is something that not even death can take away from you. God’s love is the only thing like that.” (Pg. 304, Tim Keller,  Walking with God through Pain and Suffering)

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.